La Salle outguns NU for 2-0 start

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

La Salle overcame a gutsy stand by National University to win, 115-109, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Aljun Melecio split his free throws while Santi Santillan made a pair of freebies inside the final 20 seconds as the Green Archers, who are still without reigning MVP Ben Mbala, held on for the second straight game.

Matt Salem could’ve kept his team in it, but his 3-pointer went in and out as La Salle kept a 113-109 lead with 11.2 seconds left.

“That was a good game for us, we showed a lot of tenacity, we were resilient, the composure was there, and we were able to execute our plays,” said DLSU head coach Aldin Ayo as his team improved to 2-0.

The Green Archers had 22 assists, including a dish by Ricci Rivero to his older brother Prince underneath to give the Green Archers a 112-107 buffer with 25.3 ticks remaining. 

Ricci Rivero finished with a team-high 21 points, nine coming in the fourth, to go along with seven rebounds to lead La Salle while Aljun Melecio orchestrated the offense putting up 20 points and eight assists.

Jolo Go also provided added firepower for the Green Archers with 19 points in just 13 minutes of play.

Rookie Jordan Bartlett led the Bulldogs (1-1) with 23 points.